Theatre Books: Online Versions & Excerpts

Part 1. The profession. Understanding assisting -- The tools required -- Production personnel -- Unions -- Part 2. The process. Design prep -- Load-In -- Tech -- Previews and performances -- Part 3. The paperwork. Pre-production paperwork -- Tech process paperwork -- Part 4. The industry. U.S.-based employment opportunities -- Working outside the United States -- Working in industries outside of theatre -- Part 5. The life. Working as an independent contractor -- Appendix A: Step-by-step assistant's checklist -- Appendix B: Design package checklist -- Appendix C: Assistant's kit checklist -- Appendix D: Electronic folder organization -- Appendix E: Site survey measurements -- Appendix F: Sample shop order -- Appendix G: Sample cover letter and resumé -- Appendix H: Contributing lighting designers and associates -- Appendix I: Product websites.

"Covering Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain and Sweden, as well as Britain, the book offers an historical and descriptive overview of developments across national boundaries, enabling the reader to compare and contrast acting and directing styles, administrative strategies and the relationship between ideology and achievement. Chapters trace the evolution of theatre in all its aspects, including such elements as the end of censorship in many countries, the upsurge in political and personal awareness of the 1960s, shifting patterns of state artistic policy, and the effects on companies, directors, performers and audiences."

another online version
Contents: 1 A very good place to start: The beginning, up to the eighteenth century; 2 Early musical theatre in America, 1735-1865; 3 First stirrings, 1866-1902; 4 The turn of the century, 1900-07: A new era of great American songwriters begins; 5 The Princess and the great revues, 1907-20; 6 The Jazz Age, 1920-29: A period of great songwriters; 7 A double whammy, 1929-39: The Great Depression and talking movies threaten the Broadway musical; 8 A bright golden haze, 1939-45: The American musical comes of age; 9 The Golden Age, 1945-64: An era of great musical dramatists; 10 The search for relevancy, 1964-70; 11 New directions, 1970-82; 12 Joint ventures and mega-musicals, 1982-93: British rule; 13 The corporate musical, 1993-2001; 14 The new millennium, 2001-14

SECTION ONE-WORKING IN A THEATRE; 1 Jobs in Theatre; 2 Theatre Buildings; 3 Thrust Theatres; 4 Proscenium Theatres; 5 Curtains and Backdrops; 6 Ropes and Knots; 7 Theatre Rigging; 8 Arena Rigging; SECTION TWO-THINGS IN A SCENE SHOP; 9 Hand Tools; 10 Wooden Joinery; 11 Wood and Lumber; 12 Essential Theatre Supplies; SECTION THREE-BUILDING SCENERY; 13 Construction Documents; 14 Flats; 15 Stairs; 16 Decking; 17 Metal Working; SECTION FOUR-STAGE LIGHTING; 18 Electrical Theory; 19 Power Distribution; 20 Lighting Control; 21 Photometrics; 22 Hanging and Focusing; SECTION FIVE-AUDIO AND VIDEO; 23 Audio Theory; 24 Sound Reinforcement; 25 Digital Audio Files; 26 Video Projection for the Stage

Media Servers for Lighting Programmers, Second Edition, is the reference guide for lighting programmers working with media servers - the digital media devices used to control and manipulate video, audio, lighting, and projection content that have become the industry standard for live events, broadcast, and theatre performances. This book contains all the information you need to begin working with these devices, with topics ranging from common video terminology and equipment to the workflows for setup, patching, programming, and operating a media server from a lighting console via DMX. It also features a brief history of where this unique market originated from and offers a look at the current trends in media server technology and the growing digital media industry. This second edition also includes more information on alternative methods of programming and operating a server beyond using DMX, along with new information on projection mapping workflows, content creation software, and media management techniques.

Contents: Understanding Sustainability and Defining Greener Production. Setting the stage for greener production ; Understanding the assessment process ; Beginning the journey ; The forest-view: non-technical areas ; The cast, stage managers, and crew. -- Identifying Strategies for Greener Production. Greener scene design: the cradle to cradle philosophy ; Selecting scenery materials and construction techniques ; The paint shop ; Greener stage lighting design and technology ; Costume design: the crossroad of ecology and artistic expression ; Costume construction ; Costume crafts, make-up, and storage. -- Moving From the Theoretical to the Practical. Walking the walk: integrating greener practices into realized productions.

"This book explains and provides templates for organizing and managing a prop shop, from pre-production organization to production processes, budgeting, and collaborations with other production areas. It explores how to plan, organize, and maintain a prop shop for safe and efficient production work."

"Used from Broadway to Britain’s West End, QLab software is the tool of choice for many of the world’s most prominent sound, projection, and integrated media designers. QLab 3 Show Control: Projects for Live Performances & Installations is a project-based book on QLab software covering sound, video, and show control. With information on both sound and video system basics and the more advanced functions of QLab such as MIDI show control, new OSC capabilities, networking, video effects, and microphone integration, each chapter’s specific projects will allow you to learn the software’s capabilities at your own pace."

"This fully revised second edition features new and expanded chapters that explore current and innovative approaches to creating a design-tech portfolio, including branding, social networking, and traditional and interactive e-portfolios. This comprehensive guide also covers planning and developing details such as page layout, content variety, aesthetic sequencing, marketing, personal presentation, and next steps. Each chapter features introductions, samples, and lists of "Do's and Don'ts" provided by experienced professionals in the different design/tech fields."

Contents: 1 Avenues of Communication; 2 Principles of Document Design; 3 Pre-Production; 4 The Prompt Book; 5 Rehearsals; 6 Technical Rehearsals; 7 Performances; 8 Next Steps

1. Overview -- 2. Forces, stresses, and strain -- 3. Stress analysis for beams -- 4. Geometric properties -- 5. Sawn lumber beam design -- 6. Wood column analysis and design -- 7. Combined loading for wood members -- 8. Steel beam design -- 9. Steel column analysis and design -- 10. Combined loading for steel members -- 11. Trusses and cables -- 12. Plywood designs

Some articles included: Growing Flowers on Stage; Break-Away Glass; Photo-Murals for the Stage; Quiet Wire-Rope Curtain Track; Free Standing Curved Stairs; A Measured Approach to Kerfing; A Low-Voltage Remote Controller for Special Effects; Toggle-Clamp Locks; Comparing Four Plastics as Scenery Glides; Low Pressure Air Casters; A Simple Lift Jack; Using a Piano to Create a Reverberation Effect; Horn-Hat Mics for Sound Reinforcement

Some articles included are: Building Authentic Elizabethan Ruffs; Simple and Inexpensive Stained Glass; A Quick-Load Floor Pulley Design; A Simple Approach to Stretching Drops; Flexi-Pitch Escape Stairs; Spot-Welding Scrim with Sobo; Handrail Armatures for a Grand Staircase; The Triscuit-Studwall Deck System; A Frameless Turntable; Stand on Stage: Minimum Weight, Maximum Effect; A Self-Paging Cable Tray; Roller Chain Turntable Drives; A Bench-Built XLR Cable Tester

Some articles include: Deriving a Pattern for 18th-Century American Men's Fall-Front Breeches; The Cadillac of Rolling booms; Overlooking-the-Town Light Box; Constructing a Battery-Powered Candle; Simulating Neon with Rope Light; An Affordable Gold Leaf Finish; Using Alum to De-Wrinkle Drops; Low-Cost RP Screens for the Stage; Making a Severed Head; Hand-Held Dancing Fireflies; Plans for a Double Kabuki Drop; Tilting a Wall

"The book takes the reader through the whole process of planning and designing a theatre. It looks in detail at each area of the building: front of house, auditorium, backstage, and administrative offices. It gives specific guidance on sightlines, acoustics, stage engineering, lighting, sound and video, auditorium and stage formats. Aspects such as catering, conference and education use are also covered. The information is supplemented by twenty-eight case studies, selected to provide examples which range in size, style and format and to cover new buildings, renovations, conversions, temporary and found space."

Contents: Introduction -- Basic firearms -- Choose your weapons! -- Acquiring props -- Backstage protocol & gun wrangling -- Looking the part -- Staging your shootout -- Shooting your shootout -- Troubleshooting -- Consequences -- Realities of modern combat -- Covering yourself (legal issues)